The U.S. Department of Transportation has finalized a long-stalled federal grant that will unlock replacement of the 65-year-old John A. Blatnik Bridge linking Duluth, Minn., and Superior, Wis. Local officials say the decision removes a major obstacle to starting construction later this year and reduces the risk of a costly delay that could push the bridge toward a 2030 shutdown. For Twin Ports residents and businesses, the move marks a crucial turning point after more than two years of planning and uncertainty.
The Pioneer Press reported that Secretary Sean Duffy executed an amended grant agreement releasing roughly $1.06 billion for the project. Minnesota and Wisconsin have each committed $400 million toward the replacement. Taken together with the federal award, the package approaches the roughly $1.8 billion estimated construction cost, as reported by the Associated Press.
“As a son of Wisconsin, I know just how vital this bridge is to the future of Superior and Duluth,” Duffy said, according to the Pioneer Press. The paper also reported that Duffy framed the award as one of roughly 3,200 backlog grants the department has been working to finalize. Local leaders welcomed the move but stressed that final design and contracting steps remain on the schedule before heavy construction can begin.
Schedule and risk of delay
Minnesota and Wisconsin transportation officials say preliminary and final design work is underway and that phased construction is slated to begin later this year, with a full closure of the existing span planned for early 2027, per MnDOT's project timeline. Officials have warned that any postponement of the federal funding would add substantial costs, and state leaders have estimated that inflation could tack on roughly $80 million per year of delay, a figure reported by Wisconsin Public Radio. The MnDOT project page lays out the technical steps that will guide final design and contractor selection.
Why the Twin Ports need a new bridge
The Blatnik carries I-535 over St. Louis Bay and handles more than 33,000 vehicles a day, while serving as a major freight gateway to the Port of Duluth-Superior. The federal award and traffic statistics were detailed when funding was announced in January 2024, as reported by the Associated Press.
Political pressure pushed the sign-off
Lawmakers and state leaders had been pressing Secretary Duffy to execute the amended agreement. U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin, Amy Klobuchar, and Tina Smith sent a joint letter urging the release and calling for the project to move forward without further delay, according to a press release from Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s office. Gov. Tony Evers also wrote to the secretary, warning that delays would raise costs and disrupt local planning, as detailed on the Wisconsin governor's site.
What’s next
With the grant amendment finalized, MnDOT and WisDOT can move to finalize contractor selection and prepare for letting, with procurement milestones targeted for mid-2026, according to MnDOT. MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger said in a statement that "securing this grant means the project can continue without delay," underscoring hopes that the months of advocacy have paid off. Officials say the multi-year construction will restore freight capacity across the port and create hundreds of local jobs during the five-year build.
